Alison Beard

The murder of Brian Thompson — and the public’s reaction to it — shows that frustration with corporations has reached a fever pitch. We seem to have moved from a world of “I don’t trust you” to “I hate you,” and, many Americans feel a great antipathy toward capitalism and capitalists. This is due, in part, to the failure of business, at large, to deliver value to customers, employees, and communities (as well as shareholders) simultaneously. Corporate leaders should step back in this moment and reflect on what role their organizations play in society and what trade-offs they’ll need to make to ensure that their businesses work for everyone, not just investors. Three case studies show that such strategic, socially responsible thinking pays dividends.